Here's a little eye opener, Get out and get under! Options

[Howard]

So my newly acquired 914-V8 has a bit of front end shake. Take it to local tire place, they balance and notice struts are leaking and clank a bit. So balanced, aligned and strutted, I'm on my way.

Out for a drive, front really gets shaky and a bunch of free play in wheel. Limp home, jack up car and take a look. Gee whiz (I think I said it differently) the steering box was not bolted to the frame. Nice holes, nice threads, no bolts. Installed bolts. Thanked powers that be, as I had just come off a curvy road with some serious drop offs.

Back to tire shop, tech says 'they told me to replace struts, not check anything else'. Mutters a few other things, and realigns. Car still shakes, of course. Car sat for a long time on new tires, and they now 'guess' tread separation. Nowhere near round, of course, but hey, they did balance. Think I'll take my business elsewhere.

So what have we learned, kids? I learned "Trust everyone, then double check". I had my granddaughter in the car last week.

Irate old fart goes to tire store with grenade laucher: Film @ 11.

[John2kx]

Bob,

Reminds me of the time I left a tire dealer at 10 p.m. for new tires, shocks and front end alignment. Spent about 6 hours in the shop. I was the last car out of shop and the manager flagged me down in parking lot since my tires were wobbleing as I drove off. Found all 20 lug nuts were still in shop. This story could go on and on but you get the picture.

What a mess...........new lugs required.......3 or 4 trim rings fell off during my trip to beach the next day.........one tire leaked while at beach......stripped lugs on leaking tire caused a nightmare during tire removal. Seems like lightyears ago but still amazes me at what some shops will let go out the door.

John